UK’s Photographer of the Year to Visit Great Lakes Seaway Trail May 8-12

From May 8-12 Great Britain's Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) Wildlife Photographer of the Year Naomi Roper of Sunderland, England, will be traveling the Great Lakes Seaway Trail. Roper's photo of an African comb duck taken at the WWT Washington Wetlands in the UK won an award sponsored by New York State's Division of Tourism, Continental Airlines and the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway.
Roper will stay overnight on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail byway in Alexandria Bay, Oswego, Webster and Niagara Falls, NY. She will spend one day birdwatching with Birding the Great Lakes Seaway Trail field guide author and professional ornithologist Gerry Smith. They will visit areas from Jefferson County's alvar landscape near Chaumont to Derby Hill on Lake Ontario in Oswego County.
The annual WWT photography contest honors Lady Scott, an accomplished photographer of wildfowl and wetlands and the late wife of naturalist and artist Sir Peter Scott. Roper's photo was selected from among nearly 5,000 entries by an expert panel chaired by photographer, naturalist and British TV host Chris Packham.
Roper's award was announced in January at the London WWT Wetlands Centre. New York State Division of Tourism European PR Coordinator David Gale said, "Traveling the 833.6km (518-mile) Great Lakes Seaway Trail offers those who love the outdoors an unparalleled opportunity to take photographs in one of the largest surface freshwater regions in the world. Sparkling waters, nature centers, walking trails, and birds galore across four seasons make the Great Lakes Seaway Trail a spectacular natural touring destination."
To learn more about this National Scenic Byway and National Recreation Trail, go online to http://www.seawaytrail.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/SeawayTrail%20or%20call%20315-646-1000.

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Contacts: Teresa Mitchell, Great Lakes Seaway Trail, 315-646-1000 x202; ornithologist Gerry Smith, cell: 315-771-6902; publicist Kara Lynn Dunn, 315-465-7578
Photo: ‘A Moment's Peace' -- Naomi Roper of Great Britain won a trip to New York State and the Great Lakes Seaway Trail with this Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Photographer of the Year award-winning photo.